12 great family adventures in Pittsburgh this October

Come Out & Play Festival at Schenley Plaza: October 1

Have some great outdoor fun with City of Play’s seventh annual Come Out & Play (CO&P) Festival. Presented in conjunction with the Oakland Forever festival, the free event returns to Schenley Plaza in Oakland to present a day of new and innovative games from around the world. CO&P kicks off at 2 p.m. with the all-ages Field Games and Family Games, then transitions at 6 p.m. for After Dark, a variety of social, street and digital games.

From 10 p.m to midnight, the 21 and over crowd can participate in Fantastic Adventure, a citywide game that’s part treasure hunt, part capture-the-flag, and part immersive theater. While most activities are free, Fantastic Adventure requires tickets and costs between $30 and $45.

FAM CON at The River at New Heights: October 2

Have a righteous time in Sewickley during FAM CON. The pop culture extravaganza will present a host of family-friendly activities, including live music by the tribute band Totally 80s and pro-wrestling by the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. Prepare for a fight against the undead during the zombie crossbow shoot, sample some food truck fare, or check out vendors selling comic books, art and other goods. There’s also plenty of fun for the kids, including hayrides, carnival games and a costume contest.

FAM CON takes place from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at The River at New Heights, 2365 Wharrey Dr., Sewickley, PA 15143. Admission is $7 per person, $25 for a family.

Pumpkinfest on the North Side: October 8

Start autumn off right with the 25^th anniversary of Pumpkinfest in Allegheny Commons Park. To mark the milestone, organizers will plant a sugar maple tree and bury a time capsule that won’t be opened until the event’s 50^th anniversary in the year 2041. Kids are encouraged to contribute personal tokens to the capsule, including signed cards, photos, letters, or a favorite CD or DVD. The event will also include family fun such as hayrides, games, pumpkin decorating, rides and more. There will also be a health fair featuring more than 40 family service providers.

Pumpkinfest takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. at the corner of East Ohio St. and Cedar Ave. Admission is free for adults, $5 for children ages 12 and under.

Apple Castle Fall Festival and Craft Fair in New Wilmington: October 8

Autumn never tasted so sweet at the Apple Castle Fall Festival and Craft Fair in New Wilmington. Get ready for a morning of apple picking, apple treats like cider and caramel apples, and apple-related activities like the apple slingshot. The family fun continues with pumpkin picking and decorating, live entertainment, tractor rides and a chance to climb the straw bale mountain. And don’t forget the 75 crafters selling an array of unique, handmade items.

The Apple Castle Fall Festival and Craft Fair takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 277 State Route 18, New Wilmington, PA 16142. Admission and parking are free.

Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic! at CONSOL: October 14

The magical kingdom comes alive when Feld Entertainment presents their touring production of Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic! at CONSOL Energy Center. Disney fans of all ages can join Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as they step into mysterious portals throughout the Disney universe and encounter more than 25 characters from the company’s most beloved animated films. The show uses choreography, state-of-the-art theatrical effects, and a cast of live performers to recreate iconic moments from Cinderella, Toy Story and Aladdin. There will also be original songs and the stage debut of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from Tangled.

Showtimes are 4 and 7 p.m. Buy tickets online at Ticketmaster.

3-2-1 Ride at Heinz Field: October 16

Cyclists can pedal their way through the annual 3-2-1 Ride. Now in its fourth year, the fundraising event to raise cancer awareness takes bicycling enthusiasts of all ages and skills through some of Pittsburgh’s most scenic bike routes. Events include a seven-mile family trail ride, a 25-mile trail and road ride, and the Metric Century, an epic, 62-mile journey through the Great Allegheny Passage. All rides start and end at the Heinz Field Quay along the North Shore Riverfront Trail. There will also be family-friendly activities, a Finish Line Festival, refreshments and more. Those interested can register at the 3-2-1 Ride website.

Proceeds from 3-2-1 Ride benefit The Woiner Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Melanoma Center and the Alliance of Families Fighting Pancreatic Cancer.

Animal Friends’ Muttster Mash at Edgebrook Field: October 16

Families and their four-legged friends can don their best Halloween disguises and have a spooky good time at the Animal Friends Muttster Mash. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with the all-ages Hike for Hounds 5K walk led by DJ Cris Winter of WISH 99.7 FM. Pups can enjoy treats in the vendor village, scare up some attention at the Too Cute to Spook costume parade or dive into seasonal activities like bobbing for hot dogs and the pumpkin roll. There will also be a 5K run and a food truck alley for hungry human attendees.

Muttster Mash will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Edgebrook Field, 2372 Corrigan Dr., South Park Township, PA 15129. For 5K information and fees, visit the event page. Pet owners can register online or at the event. There will also be awards given out for best costume and for race winners.

Finding Neverland at the Benedum Center: October 18-23

The PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series presents the fall tour of the enchanting musical Finding Neverland at the Benedum Center. Based on the Academy Award-winning film and the play, The Man Who Was Peter Pan, the family-friendly production follows the relationship between real-life playwright J.M. Barrie and the family that inspired his iconic work Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.

Finding Neverland takes flight from October 18 through October 23 at the Benedum Center. Check the website for showtimes. Tickets start at $26 at the Trust Arts website, over the phone at 412-456-4800 or in person at the Theater Square Box Office.

Boo-seum Trick-or-Treat at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History: October 22

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History welcomes trick-or-treaters for a night of candy collecting among mummies, dinosaurs, and other creepy inhabitants. Kids can dress in costume—there will be prizes!—while they meet live animals, see amazing specimens and participate in fun, hands-on activities.

Boo-seum takes place from 12 to 4 p.m. All activities are free with regular museum admission. While guests are encouraged to wear costumes, masks, weapons and backpacks are prohibited.

Halloween Family Fun Day and Vendor Show at Monroeville Mall: October 22

Monroeville Mall will become a haven for little ghouls and goblins during the first Halloween Family Fun Day and Vendor Show. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the mall’s second level will feature more than 30 vendors selling horror and Halloween-themed jewelry, art, baked goods and other items. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the whole family can enjoy activities like a DJ, photo ops with costumed characters, and an all-ages costume contest hosted by Professor Emcee Square of the Pittsburgh midnight movie program The It’s Alive Show. For the kids, there’s story time, face painting, crafts, a coloring contest and more. There’s also a charity auction to benefit the Monroeville-based nonprofit, the Community & Wildlife Foundation. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: October 22-23 and 29 -30

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Don’t worry, it’s just ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Kids and parents can put on their costumes and view all the furry, fanged and winged beasts as they collect treats along the way. They can also brave the not-so-haunted house, and take part in the Halloween parade and costume contest.

ZooBoo will take place from at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 22, 23, 29 and 30. All activities are included with general admission. Visitors are encouraged to go green by bringing a reusable bag to fill with treats.

Owl-o-ween and Valentino’s Birthday at the National Aviary: October 22-23 and 30-31

Halloween is a hoot at the National Aviary‘s Owl-o-Ween event. On October 22 and 29, don a costume and come prepared for candy, crafts and a bug race. The whole family can learn about birds of prey and get up close and personal with raptors, owls and other creatures of the night.

On October 30 and 31, everyone is invited to a special party for Valentino the baby sloth as he celebrates his first birthday. Kids can learn all about Valentino’s time at the Aviary, make him a birthday card, and enjoy a cupcake or two.

The Owl-o-Ween and Valentino birthday events take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All activities are free with regular admission.

Honorable mentions:

Phantom Fright Nights at Kennywood: September 30 – October 29th

Dogtober Fest at The Waterfront: October 1

Ghost Stories with Alison Babusci at the Trust Arts Education Center: October 1

Cereal Cinema: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at Row House Cinema: October 8

Trunk ‘n Treat at Riverside Drive-In: October 14 & 15

Maker Faire at Buhl Community Park: October 15 & 16

This article originally appeared in NEXTpittsburgh.